Red-hot Prospect reigns in Champaign

The Class AA girls golf state tourney kicks off with regional play on Wednesday.

State contender Prospect warmed up in splendid fashion on a chilly Saturday in Champaign.

The Knights posted a 311 score on the par 74, 5,800-yard University of Illinois Blue Course to easily defeat runner-up New Trier (324) in the 18-team field for the John Macek Memorial tournamant hosted by Champaign Centennial High School.

Prospect seniors Allison Walsh and Christine Garmoe and New Trier’s Elizabeth Sokol tied for first with 76s.

But the Bradley-bound Walsh took first place by shooting a birdie on the first playoff hole.

Garmoe got second with a par while Sokol was third with a bogey.

Prospect sophomore Kiley Walsh placed fourth (79) while classmate Noreen Caporusso was sixth (80) for the four-time defending Mid-Suburban League champs.

The Knights’ junior Noelle Johnston shot an 83 to tie for 11th while teammate and sophomore Emma Menich’s 86 was good for a tie for 15th in the field of 92 girls.

Prospect recorded 14 birdies for the round.

“Fourteen birdies as a group is unreal,” he said. “The girls are really starting to do a great job with the short game. I’m really proud of how they are buying into what (assistant) coach (Tim) Caspar and I have been trying to teach them.”

On the playoff hole, Walsh landed her approach shot 5 feet from the hole and sank the putt for the win.

Garmoe got up and down for her par.

“It was pretty cold and windy, so that was another reason I was impressed with our score (only 3 strokes shy of the Knights’ school record of 308 set earlier this season in a dual meet with Loyola),” Hamann said.

“As a group, from one through six, it was one of our best rounds of the season, especially considering the weather. We were very proud to have four of our girls finish in the top five. We are looking forward to a good run here now.”